Early 2012, Fender announced a special run of highly spec'd Custom Shop models that are only available to order during 2012 - This 1956 Heavy Relic Strat, with a desert sand finish is one such model and with all of its classic vibe and mojo we simply had to order some

click here to visit the appropriate page on the Fender Custom Shop site, then click here to view Mike Eldred (head of Custom shop) putting this model through its paces (you'll see a 1956 Heavy Relic Strat in black at the top of the page, so select this clip)

These 2012 special run models are highly spec'd and upgraded with all the best features from the Custom Shop ala carte menu to ensure the finest 'vintage' playing performance, along with that certain mojo that makes the whole package so desirable - This is as good as it gets without investing in a Master Built model

Light weight ash body (struggles to hit 8lbs) with a seriously relic'd desert sand, thin skin nitro finish
all vintage spec'd hardware
10/56 neck with a comfortable amount of meat on it and a very soft V profile
9.5" fingerboard radius
Dunlop 6105 frets
one piece quarter sawn maple neck
Fat 50's Fender Custom Shop pick-ups
5 way switch with the bridge pick-up also wired to the bottom tone pot
Tweed vintage case, certificate and a whole bunch of Fender goodies
List price is £2859, but the special Guitars4You price is £2340

Like Marmite, the thoughts and opinions with regard to a distressed finish, is very much a love or hate affair, so let's take that out of the equation for now, and look at the key performance issues, regarding playability and tonal character and this is where Fender have now got it sewn up - Have you noticed how many of todays leading Strat players now use Custom Shop guitars, as against original 50's or 60's models and this is largely down to the performance of the guitar - The combination of the medium jumbo 6105 frets and 9.5" fingerboard radius allows for a more fluid playing action - A set of 10's still feels slinky, coupled with effortless string bending, plus no choking out, when you pull of those big blues bends - The 'worn' rubbed down neck feels nice and natural, reflecting the played in vibe of a good old 'un

Tone is soft warm and vintage, through and through, with clear lows and sparkling shimmering highs - Plenty of snap with a good attack, plus very responsive to how you play it (stroke the strings and it purrs, dig in a bit and get more bite) - Many players tend to leave the controls on '10' on their existing guitars, as that is the only useful setting - Not so on this guitar - Set up your amp with a nice sensible level of overdrive, then roll down the volume pot on the guitar until you reach that magical sweet spot where by the tone cleans up for those chilled out jazz/blues passages yet still retaining the guitars full tonal character - Same applies to the tone pot, just roll it off a touch to obtain a 'softer' voice - Excellent that you can trim the top end off the bridge pick-up as well - Sometimes on overdriven amp settings it can bite a touch to much (fine if you like that), but now you can still get the bite, without the shrill so it feels more controlled without breaking up - This guitar is all about tone and emotion with incredible dynamics - The selection of quality swamp ash for the body and quarter sawn maple for the neck, certainly assists in bringing out the best of the tone, so much so that even played acoustically, you can hear this puppy ring

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Guitars4You Offers Reliability, Integrity and Expertise

Every guitar in stock at Guitars4You has been personally selected, inspected and approved by me, with particular attention paid to the set-up and playing performance - Every sale, phone call, mail order transaction or e-mail is handled my me - Mark Hopkin, the owner, Managing Director, cleaner and coffee maker (Jo, my wife helps with the coffee) - A 35 year journey has fuelled my knowledge, experience, love, devotion and passion for exceptionally fine guitars - This reflects in every aspect of our business

I have no desire to run an Amazon style 'click to buy' guitar shop, that lacks any soul or passion, or indeed to fill a showroom with a selection of dirty, shop soiled or dusty guitars that are in need of a set-up